Good, Better, Best: Folding Dining Chairs

Whether you live in a small studio or a house with an occasional surplus of dinner guests, folding dining chairs are a smart thing to have around. Just tuck them in the back of a closet, or send them to your attic or basement, and you'll have spare seating ready and waiting — not clogging up your floor plan. Don't get me wrong: I don't advocate picking up a set of those beige metal folding chairs you see at P.T.A. meetings across the country. There are plenty of handsome options for you, at varying price points. Here are three to get you folding.

Good: The Crate & Barrel Set of Four Folding Chairs ($89) has a basic yet elegant form with its slatted, solid wood seat and rich espresso stain. It may not be the most comfortable chair, but it's certainly handsome and practical. If you need to, you can toss on a cushion to make it easier on your seat. Oh, and did I mention you get four for 90 bucks?! Pretty rad.

There are two more folding chairs to strike your fancy, so read more.

With its steel frame and padded leather seat, the DWR Lina Folding Chair ($140) gives folding chairs, never praised for their comfort or looks, a second chance. Not only is it functional and comfortable, but it's superbly stylish. Choose from an avocado, black, or tobacco plush leather seat, or a mix of all three.

The Gae Aulenti April Folding Chair ($1,359) doesn't look a thing like a folding chair, and that's because it folds in rather than up. Its steel frame with aluminum alloy joints and its great width and depth keep it super stable — even if you're cruising around on your yacht having dinner. Its seat cover is comfy as well as removable, in indoor, outdoor, or cowhide fabric, so you can keep it in fine form if you happen to spill. Spare covers are also available if you want to mix up your color palette every now and then.